President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday received the outgoing ambassadors of Angola, Malta, and France at the Presidency in Accra, expressing Ghana’s deep appreciation for their dedicated service in strengthening bilateral ties and fostering economic cooperation between their respective nations and Ghana.
The farewell meetings, held separately at the Jubilee House, marked the conclusion of successful diplomatic missions that have significantly advanced Ghana’s international relations and opened new avenues for collaboration across multiple sectors.
Ambassador João Domingos Baptista Quiosa of Angola, who completed a four-year duty tour in Ghana, engaged President Mahama in discussions about deepening collaboration between the two nations.
The conversations centered particularly on knowledge-sharing opportunities in the oil and gas sector and renewable energy development.
Ambassador Quiosa traced relations between the two countries to 1959 when then President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, through the Liberation movement network helped their fight for independence and thanked Ghana for supporting Angola.
The ambassador highlighted the growing cooperation in agricultural development, noting that Angola has ventured into large-scale cocoa cultivation, while educational exchanges have flourished with many Angolan students now pursuing their studies in Ghana.
President Mahama emphasized the mutual benefits of increased collaboration between Ghana and Angola, particularly calling for enhanced sharing of experiences in strategic sectors including oil and gas exploration and renewable energy initiatives that could drive sustainable development in both nations.
Ambassador Jean Claude Galea Mallia of Malta, who served in Ghana for over seven years, leaves behind strong personal and professional bonds that have facilitated growing trade relations between the two countries.
He pledged Malta’s interest in establishing businesses in Ghana to promote export trade. During their discussions, both leaders agreed to build on the existing momentum under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), recognizing Ghana’s strategic position as host of the AfCFTA headquarters.
President Mahama noted that Malta-Ghana trade continues to experience steady growth, creating opportunities for expanded business partnerships.
The President outlined Ghana’s ongoing reforms to position the country as a regional business hub, emphasizing the nation’s commitment to leveraging AfCFTA opportunities. “Ghana alone cannot leverage on the investment opportunities and is ready to partner others to tap the huge potentials abound,” President Mahama noted.
Ambassador Jules Armand Aniambossou of France, who has served as his country’s envoy to Ghana since November 2022, discussed the expanding French business presence in the country.
He said over 60 French companies were looking for more business friendly policies to attract more. The ambassador reaffirmed France’s commitment to strengthening continental relationships, stating that France remains open to business and continues expanding its partnerships across Africa.
The French ambassador highlighted significant investments in Ghana’s development initiatives, including over €2 million spent in building capacity of entrepreneurs in the entertainment industry and € 90 million in Feed Ghana initiatives in Northern Ghana.
These investments demonstrate France’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s economic diversification and food security programs.
President Mahama expressed Ghana’s interest in deeper collaboration with France, particularly in the aviation 5 French expertise could benefit the Ghana Air Force through enhanced training programs and improved safety protocols.
This discussion took on added significance following recent aviation challenges that have highlighted the need for strengthened international cooperation in this critical sector.
The farewell meetings underscore Ghana’s commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic relations with international partners while creating enabling environments for increased foreign investment and technological cooperation that support the country’s development agenda.
Story Written By Prince Asante Kwarteng | Kobby Kyei News
